On 5/11/06, Richard H. Gravelly <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Gilberto:
> Ok. So why do you seem so hesitant and reluctant towards recognizing
> the validity [of] this capacity?
There can be no hesitation in the recognition of what God has created. My
question to you is: If you imply that these "intrinsic values" are
self-sustaining", i.e. exist without the Revelation of them by God, how then
did they come to be? For surely if they arose out of the consciences of
man, then they arose out of what is under the control of God. Any value
imparted to them must have come from God. Yet you seem to assert that God
is not necessary for man to reason or understand.
Gilberto:
I think you are assuming things which I'm not saying nor intending.
God is the ultimate source of everything. I think I would take that
for granted. But then he gives us certain faculties as well which we
can use to appreciate the creation.
For instance, God created a world with certain light "particles"
called photons. And these photons come in different wavelengths. And
these differences in wavelengths are at the root of what we experience
as color. God also created most of us with eyes which can detect these
differences in color. A few individuals are "color blind" and have
difficulties with this task. But most of us are able to use our
God-given eyes and can see the difference between red and blue and
green etc.
If we didn't have color vision, then we might need to find someone
with that that ability to tell us if our socks matched or if our
shirts went with our shoes etc.
None of the above implies anything impious or sacriligious. God made
photons. God made colors. God made our eyes, with retinas and rods and
cones etc.
I'm suggesting is that the morality (or immorality) of our actions is
similar. God made the world. God made the consequences of our actions.
And God gave us minds and hearts capable of moral reasoning.
And again, in particular, before Bahaullah declared that slavery was
prohibited, it was possible for morally sensitive human beings to see
how the institution was being implemented, and could see the
brutality, and suffering and greed which was at the root, and so they
could see that slavery was morally problematic without having to be
told.
-Gilberto
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